Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Some movies are so bad that they are enjoyable. Some movies have such a ridiculous storyline that they are interesting. Some movies have over-the-top acting that they are entertaining to see. This isn’t one of those movies. The Glass House is plain bad. Stupid story, stupid pacing, stupid acting, stupid ending. Just plain stupid. Someone hand me a rock.

The Glass House is yet another movie where the trailer gives away as much of the story as possible. In recent memory, Castaway and What Lies Beneath also suffered from this trait, but we were held up by an intriguing story and wonderful performances. No such luck with The Glass House. Also in case you were wondering why this movie is called The Glass House; a pair of the characters last name is Glass and yes, they live in a house primarily built of glass. At first glance, it would seem this movie was going to be along the lines as Amityville, but again no such luck. The house being glass is simply a house built out of glass. Intriguing for about 2.5 seconds.

But forget about the house being glass, the reason that this movie exists is simply shock us along the same lines as The Hand That Rocked The Cradle. It stars Leelee Sobieski as Rudy Baker who along with her little brother Rhett (Trevor Morgan) are orphaned after their parents die in a tragic car crash. After a brief grieving period, they are shipped off to the Glass’ house, who their parents determined would be their guardians if anything ever tragic happened to them. Everything seems perfect (except for the fact that their parents are dead, and that both siblings have to share one room) until about an hour into the movie. It is then, that Rudy starts popping up at just the perfect moments to learn bits and pieces of what the Glass’ have in mind for her and her brother.

What exactly do they have in mind? Well if there is one remaining portion of the plot that wasn’t given away in the trailer it would be, what they have in mind. I have already read some other reviews on this movie that have given it away. I won’t repeat such actions here. What I will say is this. The remaining plot twist is down right ridiculous. It’s something that rich people should not feel trapped in, especially when they own a multi-million dollar house made entirely out of glass--that I’m sure would fetch quite a hefty sum if ever put on the market. But then again, I guess that wouldn’t make much sense for a movie. Then again nor does it make sense now.

The movie was directed by TV veteran Daniel Sackheim, who has worked on ER, The X-Files, Law & Order, and several other televisions series. Like most TV veteran’s he either doesn’t know how--or isn’t given good enough material to make a feature length film. The Glass House would of worked perfectly within the confines of an hour show with commercials. There’s not much to say about Sackheim’s direction in The Glass House. He allows the first ten minutes of the film to be wasted by a horror-like beginning that turns out to be the characters simply watching a movie on TV. He has rapid pacing in terms of editing, but the movie doesn’t really get going until about an hour after the opening credits. He also allows for a clichéd-ending that makes the movie even more un-worthwhile.

What I did like to see in this movie was Bruce Dern. He’s a well known yet unrecognized (an oxymoron for you) actor who just bleeds evil in every look he portrays. On the flipside, I enjoyed that Bruce Dern was given work, but on the side other side, I was sad that he was given work of this caliber. He’s an amazing actor that I truly believe deserves much better work than to work in such a worthless story. He may need work, and for that, I don’t dismiss him, but c’mon Hollywood he may not be an A-List star, but he can hold his own no matter what the subject or content is. It’s sad to say, but Bruce Dern will not be recognized until he finds himself a piece of work that speaks to the majority of audiences. Until people walk away from the theater thinking “who was that man”--he will forever be reduced to obscurity. I’ll say it now, one day Bruce Dern will be recognized. If so, I said it first. If not, what a shame!

There isn’t much else to speak about in this type of movie. Sad to say, but this movie will best be remembered 5 to 10 years from now as one of those trashy turn of the century movies with worthless performances and a distractions storyline. It will turn up on the shelf of Hollywood Video or Blockbuster (or some other video rental store) with a fancy title, sinister looking actors, and praises from various newspapers and magazines--that will cause some unwitting fool to give it a chance. They, the future rental individuals, are bound to be as disappointed as I was. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

What The Glass House needs is a breath of fresh air. In fact, what most Hollywood movies need is a breath of fresh air. I can live with the fact that some movies give in to formula as long as they alter or expand from that formula. They need to show is something new. If they simply think that audience members are going to be drawn to their movie, just because they offer such worthless crap as this movie did, then they are sorely mistaken. The sad thing is, this type of work and will probably continue to work in countless movies in the future. Time and time again, reviewers such as myself that recognize this as worthless crap for what it is, will be ignored because we are prejudiced. Time and time again, reviewers such as myself will be hated especially if seemingly stupid/idiotic movies star recent famous stars (unlike this movie, but I’m making a point, here.). I bet you! If The Glass House starred members of ‘N Sync I would be part of the minority. Think it won’t happen? Just wait.

I can’t say much more about The Glass House. It’s not worth it’s ticket price. It’s not worth the DVD/VHS price. It’s not worth the New Release purchase price either. The story needs to at the very least have some sort of essence to engage us. It doesn’t. Un-doubly this movie will be heavily promoted when it’s released on DVD/VHS. This movie will be heavily promoted when it appears on Pay-per-View. This movie will be heavily promoted in general. But make no mistake. You are paying to see a movie without thrills. A movie that relies heavily on it’s stars. A movie that preys on it’s innocent victims to think that it is something worth catching.

Run away. Stay clear. For your protection make sure you have a rock in your pocket.


Recommended: No

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older